Types of Crosswalks

The Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act defines a 'crosswalk' as "that portion of a roadway ordinarily included in the prolongation or connection of curblines and property lines at intersections or any other portion of a roadway clearly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface."

In HRM, there are several systems enabling pedestrians to cross streets:

Unmarked Crosswalks

There is a crosswalk at every intersection, whether marked by lines or unmarked. Drivers must always yield the right of way to pedestrians lawfuly in crosswalks.

Every pedestrian crossing at a roadway at any point other than at a crosswalk shall yield the right of way to vehicles on the roadway.

Marked Crosswalks

In HRM, marked crosswalks consist of white painted lines on the roadway and four ground mounted pedestrian crosswalk signs - two facing each direction of traffic.

Crosswalks are marked only where necessary - to over-saturate the streets with crosswalk markings would reduce their significance.

Marked crosswalks are repainted annually.

Overhead Crosswalk Signs

The basic marked crosswalk installation may be supplemented by overhead illuminated pedestrian crosswalk signs. These crosswalk signs may be installed at existing marked crosswalk locations with:

• insufficient illumination
• high speed areas
• limited crosswalk visibility

On multi-lane roadways, the overhead illuminated crosswalk sign may contain flashing amber signals that are push-button activated.

Pedestrian Half-Signals

A half-signal is a traffic signal that stops the flow of traffic on a major street so pedestrians may cross. The side street traffic (minor street) is controlled by a stop sign and these drivers must yeild to both the major street traffic and pedestrians.

A pedestrian half-signal is located on Quinpool Road.

Pedestrian Traffic Signals

Pedestrian traffic signals are used when it is necessary to control the sequence of time allocated to the pedestrian crossing. They consist of:

Steady Walk Symbol

Check for oncoming or turning traffic. Proceed across the roadway.

 

 

 

Flashing Don't Walk Symbol

Do not enter the crosswalk. If this symbol appears when you are already in the crosswalk, continue crossing. You will have enough time to finish crossing.

Steady Don't Walk Symbol

Do not enter the crosswalk!

There may not be enough time to cross the street.

Many intersections have push buttons to activate the Walk and Don't Walk signals. At these locations, pedestrians mush push the button to activate the signal. Failure to press the button may mean the Walk symbol will not appear or the crossing time will be too short.

Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS)

Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) are devices used to allow people with vision loss to use the Walk and Don't Walk signals at signalized intersections. The APS provide walk sounds - a "coo-coo" to indicate it is safe to cross in a north-south direction and the "peep-peep"or "Canadian Melody" to indicate that it is safe to cross east-west.

These signals may be considered at complex crossing locations. They may be located near public facilities such as hospitals, libraries, schools and downtown cores of the Municipality.

An APS crosswalk is located at Barrington Street and Spring Garden Road.

Pedestrian Countdown Signals (PCS)

PCS may be used in conjunction with conventional pedestrian signals to display the amount of time remaining to cross the street. The countdown timer starts at the beginning of the flashing Don't Walk phase and continues counting down the seconds of time remaining until the solid Don't Walk symbol appears.

Driver-pedestrian collisions are more common on multi-lane roadways.

DRIVERS - DO NOT pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk

PEDESTRIANS - Make sure all lanes of traffic are stopped or clear before crossing the street

 

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